Blasphemy Law, Apa Nisar Fatima and Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam

Apa Nisar Fatima – the Jamaat e Islami legislator and mother to Ahsan Iqbal – sitting MNA from PML-N moved in 1986 the law that became known as Blasphemy Law. She then went to the Federal Shariat Court and got a judgment which stated that death penalty can be the only punishment for blasphemy.

It has been my considered view that roots of all Islamist terrorism and extremism in Pakistan can be traced back to Majlis-e-Ahrar- which as most of you are aware was famous for calling Pakistan “Kafiristan” and Jinnah “Kafir-e-Azam”. Islamist dictator General Zia- himself from an Ahrari family – deliberately strengthened the Islamist elements from Majlis-e-Ahrar and Jamaat-e-Islami and handed the state over to them.

Apa Nisar Fatima – it turns out – was also from a distinguished Ahrari family: She was the daughter of General Zia’s old family friend Chaudhry Abdul Rehman who was a famous Ahrar agitator.

“Born in Rahon Jullunder. He completed his primary education from Jullunder. He became MLA after the death of Chaudhary Jang Baz Khan. Jang Baz Khan was the Rana of Rahon and his brother. The Jagir of Rahon came into the hands of Abdur Rehman. In 1927 for the first time he was elected member of the legislative assembly from jullunder, he remained member till july 26 1930. Second time in 1930. He joined Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam,and also supported the Red Shirts Movement led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, The working committee of the MAI, in a meeting at Lahore on 12 June 1933, took the decision to participate in the three bye-elections for the Punjab Assembly. It selected three prominent MAI figures as its candidates to contest these polls. The second candidate was Chaudhry Abdul Rahman Khan, he was a prominent member of a Ghorewaha Rajput family of Rahon Jallundhar, He was selected to contest the Muslim urban seat from the Sheikhupura, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur and Jullunder’s area. He led the Ahrar agitation in Kapurthala. “

It bears recalling that Ahraris were important allies of the Congress Party against all secular minded Muslims. Another prominent Islamist from this category was Agha Shorish Kashmiri – the man who forged an interview. He was the leader in the agitation against Ahmadis throughout the first three decades of the creation of Pakistan. Lately Agha Shorish Kashmiri has become somewhat of a hero to the less discerning with his so called interview with Maulana Azad.

The state of Pakistan – indeed its very creation – has been questioned given the events in recent times. However it is very important to set the record straight for our future generations and for the sake of history.